Milwaukee City Wire

What you do with a fractured toe

Stub your toe? It could be possible you fractured your toe.

“Most of my patients get little toe fractures at home, many times bumping into furniture at night,” says Dr. Todd Rieter, a podiatrist at Aurora Health Care Medical Group. “Sometimes this is called a ‘bedpost fracture’”.

But what is the treatment for this common injury?

Fractures rarely need surgery, but you should get an X-ray after a possible break as a small number may not heal if the bones are displaced, he says. Many places recommend to “buddy splint”  or taping a toe next to the fourth toe, but in most circumstances this only makes the toe hurt more, Dr. Rieter explains.

“They take a lot longer to heal than most folks would think,” Dr. Rieter says. “They say, ‘It’s only a little toe’ but with the pressure of walking, swelling from it being at the bottom of the body and wearing shoes, it all can slow healing. It can take months for a fractured toe to totally stop hurting, although there should be some improvement weekly.”

Here are some tips that Dr. Rieter recommends if you think you have a fractured toe:

    Use pain relievers: Take ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory drug to help with the pain and reduce the swelling.

    Keep your feet elevated: Helps with blood flow to the foot and reduces pain.

    Keep it on ice: Put an ice pack or even a frozen bag of vegetables (wrapped up in a towel or cloth) on the fractured toe to help with the pain and swelling.

    If pain continues, see your doctor: If the pain becomes too great, be sure to check with your doctor and have an X-ray taken.

Original source can be found here.